The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-12-27
"A DESOLATE SCENE
AT THE READING TERMINUS

At Port Riohmond-Progress of tho area
strikc-rho Mon Determined Tho En-.
| ployes Mt Reading Adopt n Conserva.
hveCourse-A Conspiracy Alleged.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Dec. 26.-Gloon
overupread Port Richmond to-day. The
great coal yards were silent and deserted
Long lines Of cars stood on the tracks and
a general feeling Of deaolation pervaded
the place. At the round house number
Of men congregated. They watched the
hundreds Of motionless engines and carr
and talked Of nothing but the strike. The
Reading rosd management was freely
criticised and many declared that nothing
could induce them to return to work.
The executive board Of the employee Of
the Reading road were In session all day
and evening. Telegrsphic reports from
Shamokin, Pottsville, Mahoney city.
Williamsport, Tamsuqua, and other
places, were read, saying that tho men
were still firm In ther intention to hold
out. Yardmaster Keim received a dis.
patch from the shop employees OF the
company at Reading, which read as
follows: - x. -, = =
"a meeting Knights OF Labor was held
here this afternoon, and the men decided
to remain at work. A committee was ap.
pointed to 20 to Port Richmond on the
No. 4 express train, due at PHILADELPHIA
at six o'clock, and endeavor to get the
men to resume work tomorrow" 1f0f-
The members Of the Board did not seem
to regard the message when shown as
being Of much Importance. Said Member
Lee: ut makes but little difference
whether the shop men 20 out or not,
They can In no way materially affect the
issue. A general order for the men 10
cease work will be sent out tomorrow
doubtless. The men In the mining re-.
gions have signifed their entire willing.
ness to follow the action OF the
employees at Port Richmond, General
Superintendent Sweigart thought the
main line. men would not strike, but he
has found on! differently. The fight at
Port Richmond is the fight Of the road.
At present there s:no perceptible change
In the situation. The mon If ANYTHING.
however, are more steadlast. Some have
cent US word that they will eat the boots
on their feet before they give in. Well.
we won't surrender until We have TO-"
Local Assembly 1907 had big meeting
this afternoon and endorsed the action Of
the Employee Convention in ordering the
strike. 80
"There 10 no strike on these liues of
eystem," said prominent official to-day,
"We discharged five crews and several
other men employed at the Port Rich
mond wharves for disobedience OF orders
and they will never be takon back again
as long as the present management OF this
Company continues" ,1,8.T ~
Tomorrow morning." said the same Of
fetal, "eve,y train that is scheduled will
be moved, and it is not expected that the
services Of non.union men will be re-
CURED to effect 1t, for the indications at
present are that there will be liberal
response in the morning from the en-
ployes OF the company for work and the
company takes the liberty to say that
those who deeire work will be accommo.
dated and given protection. II the COM
pRny 10 compelled to secure apy nom
union labor that labor will be given per.
manent employment and those whose
places they take will never bs allowed to
again entsr the service of the company.
"The amount Of coal in transit is about
26.0OO tons. This will be moved to.mor-
row. Four freight trains were moved on
the main line this forenoon, all manned
by knights Of Labor. In the afternoon
another train was sent out from
Broad and Callowhill street, which
pretty veil cleaned up everything in the
way ol freight at tha. point, and
l am j1st informed that shiiter has gone
to make up train to clean up all tho
freight at Willow street. On the Bethle-
hem division three freight trains were
handled each way this morning, ali of
them manned by Knights OF Labor"
A freight train ran over the Chester
branch this forenoon, and last night the
freight trains between Park and Wayne
functions were handled as ueual, and q
freight train WAS made up at Third and
Berks streets the same evening by Knights
Of Labor.
Latest developments indicate that the
strike will be long and bitter one and
the crisis will be reached tomorrow when
the order Of General Manager Mcleod
goes into effect. This order directs that all
employees shall at once return to work.
and those who do not return will bo dis.
missed from the service. A committee
from Assembly No. 1893, of Reading, COM
posed Of asmachiniatsis and /: car build
ers held long conference with
the Executive Committee OF the emyloyea'
convention, who met in Port Richmond
THE evening. The Reading men expressed
themselvea as entirely Batisfed with the
Justice Of the cause Of the strikers and
promised their support both financially
and otherwise to the full extent of their
means. g, q